Best Linux Gzip Command (Gzip Compression) With Examples
In this article, e are going to learn how to use Linux gzip command (gzip compression) to compress files and directories. gzip command is a very useful tool in Linux like zip command and bzip2 command used to compress files and directories.

Best Linux Gzip Command (Gzip Compression) With Examples
Best Linux Gzip Command (Gzip Compression) With Examples:
Compress a File using Linux gzip command:
We can compress a file using Linux gzip command. Here I am compressing a file test.txt. Refer to the command below.
[[email protected] data]# gzip test.txt # Compress a File [[email protected] data]# ls test.txt.gz
You can use the argument -v with gzip command for Verbose output.
[[email protected] data]# gzip -v test.txt test.txt: 0.0% -- replaced with test.txt.gz
Compress Multiple files
To compress multiple files using the gzip command refer to the below command. Here I am compressing three files i.e. test1.txt, test2.txt, test3.txt
[[email protected] data]# gzip test1.txt test2.txt test3.txt # Compress Multiple Files [[email protected] data]# ls test1.txt.gz test2.txt.gz test3.txt.gz
Compress a File with Keep the Original File unchanged
By using only the gzip command the original file gets compressed but if you want to compress a file by keeping the original file unchanged then you can do so by using the gzip command with argument -c. Refer to the below command.
[[email protected] data]# gzip -c /root/install.log > install.log.gz # Compress a File by Keep original File unchanged [[email protected] data]# ls install.log.gz
Uncompress/Extract a gzip (.gz) File
To Uncompress OR Extract a file you can use the gunzip command.
[[email protected] data]# gunzip test.txt.gz # Uncompressed OR Extract a gzip (.gz) File [[email protected] data]# ls test.txt
OR you can use the gzip command with argument -d to Uncompress a .gz file. Here I am Uncompressing test.txt.gz.
[[email protected] data]# gzip -d test.txt.gz # Uncompress a gzip (.gz) File [[email protected] data]# ls test.txt
Compress a Directory using the gzip command
By using only Linux gzip command you cannot compress a directory as gzip only able to compress files but there is a way by using we can compress a directory using gzip command and i.e. with tar command. Refer to the command below.
[[email protected] data]# tar -czvf files.tar.gz files/ # Compress a Directory By using tar command with gzip command files/ files/test4.txt files/test2.txt files/test5.txt files/test1.txt files/test3.txt [[email protected] data]# ls files files.tar.gz
Where :
- c – To create a tar file
- z – For gzip compression of the File
- v – For verbose Output
- f – for File
Also Read : How To Install 7Zip (7z) Archive Tool In Ubuntu
Extract a gzip compressed Directory
To Extract a Tar with Linux gzip-compressed directory refer to the below command.
[[email protected] data]# tar -xzvf files.tar.gz # To Extract a Tar with gzip compressed File files/ files/test4.txt files/test2.txt files/test5.txt files/test1.txt files/test3.txt [[email protected] data]# ls files files.tar.gz
Where :
- x – To extract a Tar File
Perform the gzip Fast Compression using Linux gzip command
For fast compression of a file, you can use the gzip command with argument -1.
[[email protected] data]# gzip -1 test.txt # Fast compression using gzip Command [[email protected] data]# ls test.txt.gz
Perform the Best Compression using the gzip command
For the best compression of a file, you can use gzip compression with argument -9.
[[email protected] data]# gzip -9 test.txt # Best compression using gzip Command [[email protected] data]# ls test.txt.gz
Read the Content of a gzip-compressed File
To check the content of a gzip (.gz) compressed file without extracting you can use zcat command.
[[email protected] data]# zcat test.txt.gz # Check the Content of a gzip compressed File without extracting it Welcome to itsmarttricks.com
Validate a gzip (.gz) Compressed File
You can check if the gzip file is valid or not by using the gzip command with argument -t. If the file is a valid gzip file then you will not get any output.
[[email protected] data]# gzip -t install.gz # Test Valid gzip file (Check Compressed File Integrity)
Let’s create a gzip (.gz) file using the touch command. and then validate the file. You will get the below error as it’s not created using the gzip command hence the file doesn’t have to gzip signatures.
[[email protected] data]# touch test.txt.gz # Checking if the gzip file is Valid [[email protected] data]# gzip -t test.txt.gz gzip: test.txt.gz: unexpected end of file
Compress the Content of a Directory and Subdirectory Recursively
We can compress all the contents of the directory with contents of all it’s subdirectories recursively by using the gzip command with argument -r. For Example, I have a directory named data with some content and subdirectory names files with some content. Refer to the sample output below.
[[email protected] ~]# ls data/ files test1.txt test2.txt test3.txt [[email protected] ~]# ls data/files/ file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt file4.txt file5.txt
To compress the content of the directory recursively using the below command.
[[email protected] ~]# gzip -r data/ # Compress the Content of a Directory Recursivey [[email protected] ~]# ls data/ files test1.txt.gz test2.txt.gz test3.txt.gz [[email protected] ~]# ls data/files/ file1.txt.gz file2.txt.gz file3.txt.gz file4.txt.gz file5.txt.gz
You can use zless and zmore command to check the long Linux gzip-compressed files. Refer to the commands below.
Example of zless Command :
[[email protected] ~]# zless install.log.gz
Examples of zmore Command :
[[email protected] ~]# zmore install.log.gz
For more help on gzip command, you can refer to the below command.
[[email protected] data]# gzip --help # For more Help on gzip command Usage: gzip [OPTION]... [FILE]... Compress or uncompress FILEs (by default, compress FILES in-place). Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too. -c, --stdout write on standard output, keep original files unchanged -d, --decompress decompress -f, --force force overwrite of output file and compress links -h, --help give this help -l, --list list compressed file contents -L, --license display software license -n, --no-name do not save or restore the original name and time stamp -N, --name save or restore the original name and time stamp -q, --quiet suppress all warnings -r, --recursive operate recursively on directories -S, --suffix=SUF use suffix SUF on compressed files -t, --test test compressed file integrity -v, --verbose verbose mode -V, --version display version number -1, --fast compress faster -9, --best compress better --rsyncable Make rsync-friendly archive With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input. Report bugs to <[email protected]>.
OR refer to the manual page of the gzip command using the below command.
[[email protected] data]# man gzip # gzip command manual page
To check the Software license details of the Linux gzip compression you can use the gzip command with argument -L.
[[email protected] data]# gzip -L # To check License details of gzip Command gzip 1.3.12 Copyright (C) 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. Copyright (C) 1993 Jean-loup Gailly. This is free software. You may redistribute copies of it under the terms of the GNU General Public License <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
You can check the version of installing the gzip package use the gzip command with argument -V. Refer to the command below.
[[email protected] data]# gzip -V # To check Version of Installed gzip Package gzip 1.3.12 Copyright (C) 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. Copyright (C) 1993 Jean-loup Gailly. This is free software. You may redistribute copies of it under the terms of the GNU General Public License <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law. Written by Jean-loup Gailly.
Also Read : TAR Command Examples in Linux
We tried to include all gzip command (gzip compression) with their examples. If something missed out then please mention in the comment box below.
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